@article{c2f077e29ea143dfb17cb7c8c7f04851,
title = "Connexin 43 Mediates White Adipose Tissue Beiging by Facilitating the Propagation of Sympathetic Neuronal Signals",
abstract = "“Beige” adipocytes reside in white adipose tissue (WAT) and dissipate energy as heat. Several studies have shown that cold temperature can activate pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing (POMC) neurons and increase sympathetic neuronal tone to regulate WAT beiging. WAT, however, is traditionally known to be sparsely innervated. Details regarding the neuronal innervation and, more importantly, the propagation of the signal within the population of “beige” adipocytes are sparse. Here, we demonstrate that beige adipocytes display an increased cell-to-cell coupling via connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junction channels. Blocking of Cx43 channels by 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid decreases POMC-activation-induced adipose tissue beiging. Adipocyte-specific deletion of Cx43 reduces WAT beiging to a level similar to that observed in denervated fat pads. In contrast, overexpression of Cx43 is sufficient to promote beiging even with mild cold stimuli. These data reveal the importance of cell-to-cell communication, effective in cold-induced WAT beiging, for the propagation of limited neuronal inputs in adipose tissue.",
keywords = "beiging, connexin 43, sympathetic signal, white adipose tissue",
author = "Yi Zhu and Yong Gao and Caroline Tao and Mengle Shao and Shangang Zhao and Wei Huang and Ting Yao and Johnson, {Joshua A.} and Tiemin Liu and Cypess, {Aaron M.} and Olga Gupta and Holland, {William L.} and Gupta, {Rana K.} and Spray, {David C.} and Tanowitz, {Herbert B.} and Lei Cao and Lynes, {Matthew D.} and Tseng, {Yu Hua} and Elmquist, {Joel K.} and Williams, {Kevin W.} and Lin, {Hua V.} and Scherer, {Philipp E.}",
note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by NIH grants R01-DK55758, R01-DK099110, and P01-DK088761; a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT RP140412) to P.E.S.; a Lilly Innovation Fellowship Award (LIFA) to Y.Z.; China Scholarship Council Scholarship number 201406280111 to T.Y.; AHA grant 14SDG20370016 to T.L.; NIH grant R03-DK101865 to O.G.; NIH grant R01-NS092466 to D.C.S.; NIH grant R21-AI124000 to H.B.T.; NIH grants R01-CA163640, R01-CA166590, and R21-CA178227 to L.C.; NIH grants R01-DK077097 and R01-DK102898 to Y.-H.T.; NIH grants R37-DK053301, R01-DK088423, R01-DK100659, and P01-DK088761 to J.K.E.; NIH grant R01-DK100699 to K.W.W.; NIH grant R01-DK104789 to R.K.G.; and NIH grant R00-DK094973 to W.L.H. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2016",
month = sep,
day = "13",
doi = "10.1016/j.cmet.2016.08.005",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "24",
pages = "420--433",
journal = "Cell Metabolism",
issn = "1550-4131",
publisher = "Cell Press",
number = "3",
}